31st Sunday in Ordinary Time

 Have you noticed how hard St Matthew is on the Pharisees? It is not just this Sunday's reading but in the gospel as a whole we have the "seven woes" which are declared on them (Mtt 23: 13-36). It is not that Jesus, in Matthew, is against the Law as he states elsewhere: "For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass away until all is accomplished." (Mtt 5: 18) The problem, as I see it, is that with the Pharisees who act the way indicated in today's gospel is that they do not put God at the centre. It is all about them. Hypocrisy, virtue signaling, status seeking and self-aggrandizement undermine the Pharisees' teaching and professed love of the Law. The lesson for them remains the same for us: "The greatest among you will be your servant. All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted." (Mtt 23: 12)  

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time

 Today's episode takes up after Jesus has confounded the Sadducees regarding their disbelief in the resurrection of the dead. Jesus now deals with the Pharisees, who had a belief in the resurrection, on account of their fixation on the law. When we think of Law we need to see it as a whole cultural, scriptural and theological system which developed over time through the teaching of rabbis. Thus, we can understand that Judaism, in the time of Jesus, was not all the same. The major thing that Jews had in common was the Temple. There is a challenge to the Catholic Church in 2023 that we do not end up in a fragmented and sometimes antagonistic situation. The key is to listen to Pope Francis and his predecessors, especially in their interpretation of the Second Vatican Council. In this way, we can express a legitimate diversity while holding onto those things that are essential. Jesus' interpretation and summation of the law today speaks to the heart of our Faith which is love. God takes priority which we are called to love others and we would love ourselves. Let us keep this in mind as we embark on a new era of synodality where we are called to walk together, in faith, in a rapidly changing world.

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

 As I have pointed out previously, the exchanges we have heard about can be considered as taking the form of a trial. Jesus, the Messiah visiting his Temple, hands down judgment on it by cleansing the Court of the Gentiles. The chief priests and elders call him to account by asking: "By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?" (Mtt 21: 23) Jesus replies by referring them to John the Baptist and giving them a series of parables that convict them of unbelief, failing to render to God the fruit of the Kingdom and refusing to accept God's invitation to his wedding banquet. Disgruntled by Jesus' defiance the Pharisees counter-attack by asking: "Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor or not?" (Mtt 22: 17) Either way, they think, Jesus will be discredited in the eyes of his followers or by the Roman authority. Jesus' reply instead traps them. It is they who are holding coins with the image of the pagan emperor. It is they who prioritize money and political power ahead of God. It is they who have sold out their faith for secular gain.  Thus, they are amazed as they have been outwitted by Jesus, thought to be son of the carpenter, from Nazareth. Publicly humiliated in the presence of Jesus' disciples and their own supporters, no wonder  their minds turn to murder since they are unable to defeat Jesus in debate. Let us pray that we ourselves will not be counted among such hypocrites when our risen Lord returns in glory.

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

 The parable for this week strikes me as having the same message as that from last week except the metaphor is that of a wedding feast rather than a vineyard. Last week the warning was that: "...the kingdom of God will be taken away from you, and given to a people that produces the fruits of the kingdom." (Mtt 21: 43) Today we hear: "For many are called, but few are chosen." (Mtt 22: 14) The warnings against complacency, presumption and entitlement are severe. Matthew's community as well as the Church in New Zealand in 2023, I think, faced the challenge of living out being Church in a hostile environment. The temptation is to turn inward and erect defenses against a world that does not understand us. Rather, we called to go outward and to share with others the joy of the Gospel regardless of who they are. The Holy Spirit will guide and empower us in this mission which originates from the Risen Lord.

27th Sunday in Ordinary Time

 Today the "trial" by the elders and chief priests of Jesus for his cleansing of the Temple continues. What they wanted to know was: "By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?" (Mtt 21: 23) Yet, it seems, that the chief priests and the elders are the ones being held to account. Interestingly, it is only in Matthew  that they speak a verdict on themselves when they say: "He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the harvest time." (Mtt 21: 41) Jesus makes it plain to them that this applies to the chief priests and the elders themselves. They are hoist by their own petard. The consequence of this is that the Kingdom is henceforth given over to those who will produce the fruits in due season. Saint Matthew would say that it is the Christian community which is the new tenants and it is charged with producing the fruit. Once the chief priests and Pharisees realize that the parable is directed at them they want to arrest Jesus. Are we as Church, in 2023, producing the fruit of the Kingdom? Or, do we share the attitudes and practices of entitlement and self-interest that Jesus condemns?